Animal Behavior 1 Questions and Answers
2023
Behavior - -all observable processes by which an animal responds to perceived changes in the
internal state of its body or in the external worl
-ethology - -the study of the immediate causes and the evolutionary causes of behavior
-behavioral ecology - -the study of relationships btwn the behavior of an animal species and its
abiotic and biotic environment
-sociobiology - -the study of biological basis of social behavior, particularly the selective value
of different social systems
-Many other areas: - -Comparative Psychology (human-animal)
Animal Psychology (zoo animals)
Comparative Ethology (behavioral phylogeny)
Behavioral Physiology (neuroethology, behavioral
endocrinology)
-Proximate and Ultimate Causes for Behavior - -1. Proximate Causes = "how" questions
physical (sensory, motor) mechanisms involved and
genetic and developmental effects
2. Ultimate Causes = "why" questions = evolution
and selection
-Examples: - -Example: Automeris moth (Costa Rica), has plain
wings until poked and then flips wings up to reveal underwings with huge "eyespots"
Proximate cause for revealing "eyespot" = "how"
sensory system detected poke? muscles contracted?
neurons fired? inherited characteristic?
-Tinbergen's Four Questions - -1) Mechanism: (causation) how is the behavior
achieved?
2) Development: how does the behavior develop?
3) Function: (adaptation) what is the purpose of
the behavior?
4) Evolution: (phylogeny) from where did the
behavior come?
-Niko Tinbergern - -pioneer in ethology (also an ornithologist and field researcher) who shared a
Nobel Prize 1973 with two other ethologists, Konrad Lorenz and Karl von Frisch.
-NA Elk bugling - -What is the mechanism used to make the call?
, Are there critical movements of the larynx?
Are there critical movements of the nostrils?
Are there critical movements of the mouth?
-How does bugle calling develop? - -Is it innate?
Do males learn from other males?
Do they practice calling?
-What is the function of the bugle call? What
purpose does it serve? - -Does it drive off other males?
Does it attract females?
Does it have no purpose and is simply the result of excess
emotion/testosterone?
-How did bugle calling evolve? - -What selective pressures acted on the use of this call?
Did males that called more also reproduce more
because of it?
Did females prefer these males?
-What are the steps scientists take? - -1. OBSERVE
2. Formulate a TESTABLE Question.
3. State a testable Hypotheses.
4. State Predictions.
5. Design Methods that address the Question and
Hypotheses.
6. Collect Data.
7. Analyze the Data.
8. Make Conclusions.
-Three Foundations of Animal Behavior - -
-Foundation One: Natural Selection - -individuals vary
more offspring are produced than
the environment can sustain
individuals compete for limited resources
individuals with favorable
variations survive
some variations are inherited
-Charles Darwin - -English naturalist who proposed that evolution (change in inherited traits
over time) resulted from the process he termed natural selection ("On the Origin of Species"
1859).
-Alfred Russel Wallace - -British naturalist and biologist. While he was off in the field doing
research he independently came up with a theory of evolution due to natural selection and sent
his ideas to Darwin....who then dashed out and published his own theory first.
2023
Behavior - -all observable processes by which an animal responds to perceived changes in the
internal state of its body or in the external worl
-ethology - -the study of the immediate causes and the evolutionary causes of behavior
-behavioral ecology - -the study of relationships btwn the behavior of an animal species and its
abiotic and biotic environment
-sociobiology - -the study of biological basis of social behavior, particularly the selective value
of different social systems
-Many other areas: - -Comparative Psychology (human-animal)
Animal Psychology (zoo animals)
Comparative Ethology (behavioral phylogeny)
Behavioral Physiology (neuroethology, behavioral
endocrinology)
-Proximate and Ultimate Causes for Behavior - -1. Proximate Causes = "how" questions
physical (sensory, motor) mechanisms involved and
genetic and developmental effects
2. Ultimate Causes = "why" questions = evolution
and selection
-Examples: - -Example: Automeris moth (Costa Rica), has plain
wings until poked and then flips wings up to reveal underwings with huge "eyespots"
Proximate cause for revealing "eyespot" = "how"
sensory system detected poke? muscles contracted?
neurons fired? inherited characteristic?
-Tinbergen's Four Questions - -1) Mechanism: (causation) how is the behavior
achieved?
2) Development: how does the behavior develop?
3) Function: (adaptation) what is the purpose of
the behavior?
4) Evolution: (phylogeny) from where did the
behavior come?
-Niko Tinbergern - -pioneer in ethology (also an ornithologist and field researcher) who shared a
Nobel Prize 1973 with two other ethologists, Konrad Lorenz and Karl von Frisch.
-NA Elk bugling - -What is the mechanism used to make the call?
, Are there critical movements of the larynx?
Are there critical movements of the nostrils?
Are there critical movements of the mouth?
-How does bugle calling develop? - -Is it innate?
Do males learn from other males?
Do they practice calling?
-What is the function of the bugle call? What
purpose does it serve? - -Does it drive off other males?
Does it attract females?
Does it have no purpose and is simply the result of excess
emotion/testosterone?
-How did bugle calling evolve? - -What selective pressures acted on the use of this call?
Did males that called more also reproduce more
because of it?
Did females prefer these males?
-What are the steps scientists take? - -1. OBSERVE
2. Formulate a TESTABLE Question.
3. State a testable Hypotheses.
4. State Predictions.
5. Design Methods that address the Question and
Hypotheses.
6. Collect Data.
7. Analyze the Data.
8. Make Conclusions.
-Three Foundations of Animal Behavior - -
-Foundation One: Natural Selection - -individuals vary
more offspring are produced than
the environment can sustain
individuals compete for limited resources
individuals with favorable
variations survive
some variations are inherited
-Charles Darwin - -English naturalist who proposed that evolution (change in inherited traits
over time) resulted from the process he termed natural selection ("On the Origin of Species"
1859).
-Alfred Russel Wallace - -British naturalist and biologist. While he was off in the field doing
research he independently came up with a theory of evolution due to natural selection and sent
his ideas to Darwin....who then dashed out and published his own theory first.
